Fruit flies of the tribe Dacini (Tephritidae: Diptera) are major pests of global horticulture, causing significant economic losses despite extensive management efforts. Current biorational control relies largely on male-specific parapheromones, limiting effectiveness against females. Here, we report the first evidence of interspecific communal roosting in Asian Dacini, involving six Bactrocera species (B. cucurbitae, B. zahadi, B. diversa, B. scutellaris, B. caudata, and B. yoshimotoi) observed in bamboo plantations of Himachal Pradesh, India. Large mixed-sex aggregations formed during winter, with flies repeatedly returning to roost sites after disturbance and exhibiting proctodeal tropholaxis. All species belonged to the Zeugodacus subgenus group, suggesting phylogenetic constraints. We hypothesize that interspecific aggregation is mediated by unidentified allelochemicals, herein termed “requiemones,” facilitating communication among ecologically similar species. This discovery provides new insights into fruit fly behavioral ecology and offers potential for developing novel, more inclusive biorational pest management strategies targeting both sexes. Keywords Inter-specific roosts, Allelochemicals, Fruit flies, Dacini, Bactrocera and bio-rational Pest management.
Sachet-based release systems represent an innovative approach to integrated pest management (IPM) that has gained significant adoption in greenhouse and protected cultivation systems worldwide. These systems utilise specialised packages to deliver biocontrol agents, particularly predatory mites, in a controlled and sustained manner for managing key agricultural pests, including thrips, whiteflies and spider mites. This review synthesises evidence from 30 peer-reviewed publications examining sachet technologies, their mechanisms, efficacy and applications in both international and Indian contexts. Sachet systems offer distinct advantages over conventional pest management methods, including prolonged predator establishment, protection from intra-guild predation, reduced labour requirements and compatibility with integrated pest management strategies. Multiple sachet types have been developed, including slow-release, breeding, sheltered and moisturised sachets, each optimised for specific environmental conditions and target pests. Key biocontrol agents deployed through sachets include Neoseiulus cucumeris, Amblyseius swirskii, Neoseiulus californicus and Typhlodromips swirskii, which effectively suppress populations of Frankliniella occidentalis (western flower thrips), Tetranychus urticae (two-spotted spider mite), Bemisia tabaci (whitefly) and related pest species. Despite demonstrated efficacy in controlled environments, challenges remain regarding environmental sensitivity, cost-effectiveness for small stakeholder farmers and adaptation to diverse cropping systems. In India, the adoption of sachet-based systems is gradually increasing in protected cultivation; however, research development and commercial availability still lag behind global standards. Overall, sachet-based bioagent delivery systems show strong potential as sustainable alternatives to conventional pest management approaches. Keywords: Neoseiulus cucumeris, Amblyseius swirskii, Neoseiulus californicus, Bio control, Management
Large community mobilization or social engineering approach transforms insect pest management programmes into a coordinated, sustainable, ecosystem-based strategy, ensuring long-term crop protection, environmental safety, and economic stability, especially for agriculture‑based communities. Considering the importance of community mobilization, the All India Network Project on Soil Arthropod Pests, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat Centre has embraced "Group Approach of Extension Management" to tackle white grub menace in Majuli river island of Assam during 2010-2023. As a part of the mass campaigning and awareness programme the project team planned and executed a “National Record” achievement of “Most Beetles Collected in 3 Hours”, by collecting 73,700 white grub beetles in collaboration with 100 farmers at Maharichuk Village, Majuli, on 9th April 2018. The impact analysis of this record revealed that this mass campaigning programme based on group approach of extension mostly targeting the flood and erosion affected farmers in Majuli had a tremendous impact in terms of protecting the crops, disseminating ecofriendly technologies, enhancing crop productivity as well as improving both livelihood and nutritional security. Keywords: Scarabaeidae, Lepidiota mansueta, Farmers Participatory Approach, Impact assessment
Naphthalene produced by M. vitigenus was found to be behaviorally active and acts as a repellent against Cephus cinctus (wheat stem sawfly). Volatiles from M. albus caused high mortality in adults of the potato tuber moth and reduced larval development. The volatile compound, 1-octen-3-ol was lethal to male Drosophila flies which reduced survival and locomotor performance in both male and female while exhibiting strong repellency against adults of red flour beetle. Volatiles such as 2-methyl-1-butanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol and 2-phenylethanol produced by A. pullulans were found to attract beneficial predators (hoverflies) and pollinators (sweat bees). Additionally, 2-cyclohepten-1-one and 1, 3-dimethoxy-benzene were identified as effective repellents against adults of banana black weevil. The bacterial mVOCs (produced by M. morganii and C. freundii) attracted Cyclocephala species while ethenyl benzene and benzothiazole from B. bassiana were effective repellents of female red palm weevil. Sucking pests of cotton are effectively managed by the attractant formulations, which increase the attraction efficiency rather than the use of yellow sticky trap. Furthermore, the mVOCs produced by S. vini were the most effective in attracting female D. suzukii followed by those from H. uvarum. Key words: mVOCs, fungal mVOCs, bacterial mVOCs, yeast mVOCs, C. cinctus, wheat stem sawfly, Drosophila flies, red flour beetle, hoverflies and sweat bees, banana black weevil, M. morganii and C. freundii, B. bassiana, red palm weevil, attractant formulations, yellow sticky trap, S. vini, D. suzukii, H. uvarum
